In today’s economy, potluck parties have become a popular solution for casual entertaining. The secret: create a theme that will tie the menu together and make it easy for your guests to contribute. You provide the basics.

Mexican Menu: you make enchiladas or tostadas and your guests can bring their favorite sides. Cap the meal off with vanilla ice cream with Kahlua® and shaved Mexican chocolate.

A Festival of Burgers: friends bring their favorite patties, from salmon or lamb to turkey or beef. You provide all of the toppings, great buns, a salad and beverages.

Chili Cook-off: invite several friends to bring a small batch of their favorite chili (which could even be a purchased chili they’ve doctored up). You make a batch of your chili and cornbread. Ask someone else to bring dessert or beverages. Set up all of the chilies on a table and let guests do a “blind tasting” and vote for favorites. Kind of like the county fair pie competition, this can be lots of fun!

Taco bar: divvy up the preparation of the different main ingredients or toppings. Ask someone to bring Mexican beer or a salad.

Salad smorgasbord

Another idea is to serve a salad buffet for supper. Salads let you stretch the more expensive ingredients in a party menu while delivering fantastic flavors. And salads are just so perfect for summer entertaining: cool, fresh and light.